Brake mechanism



Feb. 5, 1946. J. H. cooMBEs BRAK MECHANISM Filed Dec. 3, 1943 2Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNE Y Feb. 5, 1946. J. H. cooMBEs BRAKE MECHANISMFiled nec; s, v1945 Y z sheets-sheet 2 v INVENTOR" JOSQPP) H. Coombes.

By ATTORNEY Patented F eb. 1946 ortica BRAKE MECHANISM y Joseph H.Coombes, Detroit, Mich., assignorto Budd Wh eel Company, Philadelphia,Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 3, 1943, SerialNo. 512,729 4 Claims. '(Cl. 18S-107) The invention relates to brakemechanism and more particularly to such mechanisms adapted forassociation with railway trucks or like vehicles. v

The invention is particularly concerned with the simplification of theactuating means for such brake mechanisms and the provision of bothmanual and fluid pressure actuation, designed to act, eitherindependently of, or in conjunction with each other.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of manually actuatedmeans which make use of parts of the fluid-pressure actuated means andemploy novel equalizing means.

A further feature is the provision of manually-actuated means whichsimplify the application of equalized braking forces to opposed wheelsand in which the reaction of the manually-actuated means is taken by thetruck frame or other vehicle frame.

Other and further objects and advantages and the manner in which theyare attained will become clear from the following detailed descriptionwhen read in connection with the drawings forming a part hereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of a truck showing theinvention applied thereto, parts being broken away and parts shown inhorizontal sectional view taken substantially in the plane of the axlesof the truck.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View taken substantiallyalong the line 2 2 of Fie. l, and

Fig. 3 is fragmentary detail view partly in vertical section and partlyin side elevation, the' section being taken through the vertical rpivotaxis of a brake lever.

The brake mechanism and mounting therefor shown corresponds generally tothe arrangement shown in -co-pending application Serial No. 399,779 forBrake mechanism, filed June 26, 1941. In the form shown, the inventionis applied to a railway truck having. a usual frame including sidemembers (not shown) interconnected by transverse members, as i0, theframe being sup'- ported through the side members on the ends of a wheeland axle assembly, the opposite Wheels of which are designated Il. Eachwheel of the wheel and axle assembly is provided with a rotary brakeelement or ring, as l2, which is secured thereto to rotate therewith. l

The brake support designated generally by the reference numeral I3, maycomprise a U- or C-frame generally similar in form to that shown IVported from the ends of the wheel andl axle assembly, all in a mannergenerally similar to that shown yin the co-pending application referredto. except for the modified beam support from the truck frame now to bedescribed.

The beam it is, in this instance, shown supported centrally thereof by alateral extension i6 having its end received in a surrounding bracket ilbolted to the transverse member it. This bracket may comprise upper andlower parts i8 and i9 bolted together in their lateral flanged margins,as indicated, at 2U, Fig. 1.

When the bracket parts are so secured together, they clamp the end ofthe exte'nsion lli, between upper and lower rubber blocks 2 i. Obviouslythe form of the support could be varied from that shown, since thelpresent invention is not directed to this feature.

The beam support it has its lateral portions, as 22, enlarged, in theregion of the laterally spaced brake rings l2 to provide closed casingsmounting the actuating levers cooperating with the non-rotary brakeelements or shoes 23 associated with the respective rotary brake ringsl2.

The construction of these enlarged casings 22 and the mounting of thebrake levers therein is generally similar to the arrangement disclosedand claimed in co-pending application Eierial No. 512,728, filedDecemberk 3, 1943.

Sumce it to say that each closed casing 22 has two brake levers mountedtherein at laterally spaced points, the outboard of these levers, thatis the one toward the outside of the truck,

.being designated 2d and the inboard lever, 25.

Each of the levers is mounted in the4 casing through a pivot portion Z6and each has an outside arm as 2l connected to the pivot portion by asplined connection 28 and secured in place by a nut 29, see Fig. 3. Eachlever has an arm 30 extending from its pivot portion 26 into the casingand into cooperative relation withv a iluid pressure actuator, such asthe cylinder 3l and pistons 32, one for cooperation with each arm. Theouter arms 2l of the levers pivotaily carry the brake shoes 23,respectively, arranged on the opposite sides of the rotary brake ringi2. The manner in which the shoes are carried by the :lever arms returnsthe parts position, when levers is similar to'that shown in lzzo-pendingapplictlon Serial- NO. 529,730, med April 6, 1944,

and need not be further described herein.

To apply the brakes by the fluid pressure actuating means, iiuid underpressure is admitted between the pistons of the cylinders li forcing thepistons 32 outwardly and thereby moving the levers 24 and 2l and theshoes carried thereby into braking engagement with the rotary brake ringI2. A tension spring 32 interconnectingthe to inoperative the iluidpressure is released. Y

The construction and operation of the brake mechanism so far describedis substantially the same as that shown and described in theabovereferred to `izo-pendingA application, Serial No.

` In addition to the uid present inventionprovides for manual actuationof the brakes, either in conjunction with. or independently of the huidpressure actuation. To this end the outer arms 21 of the inboard levers2l arranged at the opposite ends of the support beam I4 are madeVheavier and stronger than the corresponding' arms of the outboardlevers 24 and have extensionarms 34 extending from the pivot portionsthereof in a direction oppositely from the arms 21.

In the embodiment shown these arms 34 extend substantially to thetransverse member I Il of thev truck frame. The ends of these arms areinterconnected for manual actuation through a novel equalizing means nowto be described.

The ends of a flexible element or cable 35 are connected to the ends ofthe respective lever arms 34, each end of the cable passing by astraight reach 36 extending transversely inwardly toward the center lineof the truck around one of a pairA of independently rotatable sheaves31, and from these sheaves the cable forms a loop Y having parallellongitudinal reaches 38 and passing around a third sheave 39. The pairof sheaves 31 are carried by the truck frame. and, in instant case, theyare shown mounted in the lower part I9 of the bracket II for rotation onthe common pin 40 extend through spaced ears in the part I8 and the hubsof the sheaves disposed therebetween. i

The third sheave 38 is mounted for longitudinal floating movement in anysuitable support.-

In the present instance. it is shown rotatably mounted on a pin 4Ipassing through the spaced arms of a clevis 42 and the hub of the sheavedisposed therebetween and locked in place, as by a cotter pin 4Ia. Thepin has a reduced portion 43 extending above the clevis terminating inan enlarged head 44. This enlarged head and portion 43 may be slidinglyreceived in a longitudinally extending T-slot 45 formed in a part 4B,removably secured, as by screws 41 to the longitudinally extending faceof an integral projection 48 on the beam support I4.

An actuating cable 491s secured to an eye in the clevis 42 and extendslongitudinally to a suitable manual actuating means on the vehicle. TheT-slot may be provided with a stop. preventing undue slack in the cable8B.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a longitudinal pull on the cable49 will move the oating sheave longitudinally-in its support to placethe cable 38, interconnecting the ends of the lever arms 34 together, intension, thus pulling the lever arms toward each other and applying theinboard brake shoes to the rotary brake rings pressure actuation, theIthe A assenti with an equalized braking pressure. Upon release of theactuating cable ,48. the springs Il will return the parts to inoperativeposition.

With this arrangement a very simple combined manual and fluid pressureactuation of the brakes is made possible in which the manual actuationis connected to but one of the'pairs of shoes cooperating with therespective brake rings and in which the manual actuating force isdirectly reacted by the truck frame without exerting any bending momenton the transverse beam support. Equalizing of brake pressures isobtained both for the manual and the iluid pressure operation, and themanual and fluid pressure actuating means may be operated jointly toproduce more pronounced braking action, or either can be operatedindependently of the other.

' made by those skilled in the artiwithout departing from the mainfeatures oi' the invention, and such changes and modifications areintended to be covered in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a brake mechanism for a vehicle having a wheel and axle assemblyand a vehicle frame supported thereby, a rotary brake element rotatingwith each wheel of said assembly, a non-rotary brake element operativelyassociated with each rotary brake element, a transversely extendingbrake support, an actuating lever operatively associated with eachnon-rotary element and pivoted on said support, and means for actuatingsaid levers to apply equallzed braking force thereto comprising aflexible element having one end thereof connected to one lever, thencepassing transversely of the vehicle and around a sheave supported fromthe vehicle frame, thence around a sheave mounted for longitudinalfloating movement and finally around another sheave supported from theframe and transversely of the vehicle to a corresponding connection tothe other lever, whereby a pull in longitudinal direction 45 'exerted onthe oatingly mounted sheave applies the brakes associated with therespective wheels with equal force without placing any appreciablebending moment upon the transverse brake suport.

2. In a brake mechanism for a vehicle having a Wheel and axle assembly,and a frame supported thereby, a rotary brake element rotating with eachwheel of said assembly, a non-rotary brake vehicle and around a sheavesupported from the frame, thence around an equalizing sheave -mountedfor movement in longitudinal direction,

thence around another sheave supported from the frame and transverselyof the vehicle to a corresponding connection to the other lever, wherebya pullon the equalizing sheave in longitudinally direction appliesequalized forces to the non-rotary brake elements cooperating with therespective rotary brake elements without placing any appreciable bendingmoment upon the transverse brake support.

3. In a brake mechanism for a truck having a wh'eel and axle assemblyand a frame supported thereby having a transverse member spaced lon-yportion extending transversely between the peripheral portions of saidrotary brake elements and said transverse member of the frame, simiy larbrake levers pivoted intermediate their ends on said transverselyextending portion of the brake support, one adjacent each rotary brakeelement, said levers having one of their arms op eratively associatedwith one of the respective non-rotary brake elements and the other oftheir arms extending toward the transverse member of the frame, andmeans for operating the brakes comprising a, cable connected at its endsto the last-named arms of the respective levers and passing from thence,respectively, over a pair of sheaves supported between the leverson thetransverse member of th'e frame, andthence looped around a oatinglymounted sheave, whereby apull on the floating mounting of said sheavelongitudinally of the truck transmits through the exible member anequalized braking pressure to the brakes associated with the respectiveWheels.

4. In a brake mechanism, a wh'eel and axle assembly carrying adjacentits opposite ends,

. wheels each provided with a rotary braking face,

a transversely extending brake support having spaced enlarged casingportions, one opposite each of said braking faces associated with therespective wheels, each of said casing portions carrying therein a fluidpressure actuator and mounting a brake lever having a portion pivoted insaid casing, an outside arm extending from said pivota1 portion andcarrying a lion-rotary brake member in cooperative relation to theadjacent braking face, an inside arm extending into the casing intocooperative relation to the uid pressure actuator, and a second outsidearm extending in, a direction from said pivota1 portion opposite the armcarrying the non-rotary brake member, said last-named arms of the leversassociated with the respective casing portions being connected toequalizing means for manually actuating the levers and applying thebrakes, either in conjunction with, or independently of, the iiuldpressure actuator. JOSEPH H. COOMBES.

